So at this point on Whedonesque

[giandujakiss]

It appears that some of the commenters are specifically arguing for a conception of the imprints as separate personalities, and the original personality as essentially obliterated, so that the show will not be interpreted as being about rape.

Check out the views of Alan D.

He's making this argument despite the fact that in the very first scene, Caroline says that you can't erase a slate - something is always left behind - despite the fact that in Echoes it was canonically established that the original memories aren't removed but merely suppressed, and despite the fact that pretty much everything worth watching on the show concerns how the dolls' memories surface despite the wipes and despite the imprinting.

In other words, some commenters appear highly invested in an interpretation of the show that does not (in their view) require what's happening to be viewed as rape.

Comments

[cofax7]

In other words, some commenters appear highly invested in an interpretation of the show that does not (in their view) require what's happening to be viewed as rape

This surprises me not at all.

[giandujakiss]

Yes. I was getting the idea when that guy from Whedonesque commented on the vid with the subject line "not rape" and argued vehemently that this wasn't rape. He seemed very invested in that interpretation. It was really important to him.

[cofax7]

It was really important to him

... which in itself I find kind of disturbing.

[giandujakiss]

I KNOW.

[wembley]

I keep getting confused with whether or not the original personalities are obliterated and only exist in traces/fragments in the Dolls' minds + on some cassette tape in Topher's office... in "Needs," did they essentially insert those stored, old personalities in them, or un-repress them? If they said specifically what they were doing, I don't remember it.

Either way, the Dolls are still being raped by their clients. And yeah, really disturbing (and not at all surprising) that of course some dudes want to go, "OMG IT'S NOT RAPE OKAY?!" Even Joss, in one interview, apparently debated a female friend about whether or not it was rape which... disturbs me. I look forward to the show and I enjoy it when I watch it and want to see what happens next, but the fact that Joss debated it shows, as you've said, that he doesn't have as much of a handle on these issues as I'd previously thought. :(

[giandujakiss]

I saw that interview! It was the only one I've seen where anyone associated with the show even used the word rape, on or off camera, and it appeared Joss didn't think it was. But the most honest thing he said in that interview was that he didn't even know what he was doing with Dollhouse anymore, it had been so altered and changed around - and that, I completely believe.

In Echoes it was established that they are blocking the memories, so that they're still in the dolls' heads, and that's why they can pop out occasionally.